Former President

Jean-Claude MIGNON

"The Parliamentary Assembly was the instigator of many initiatives which have made the Council of Europe what it is today, from the European Convention on Human Rights to the integration of the new democracies in central and eastern Europe as a result of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the establishment of special guest status. It has now initiated a fruitful dialogue with the countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean by granting "partner for democracy" status to the Moroccan Parliament and the Palestinian National Council.

And above all it is a benchmark for democracy. It helps to ensure that the unacceptable is never accepted, whether the issue being addressed is the persecution of Christians in the Middle East or frozen conflicts.

It is also necessary to be vigilant with regard to the older democracies, as respect for our values can never be taken for granted.

To achieve its objectives, it is vital that the PACE work in close synergy with the other Council of Europe bodies – the Court, the Venice Commission and the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, to name but a few. Together we will be able to strengthen the Council of Europe's values of tolerance, pluralism, democracy, non-discrimination and religious freedom."

Biography

Deputy in the French National Assembly. Born on 2 February 1950 in Corbeil-Essones, Essonne, France. Married, two children.

European political duties

President of the Parliamentary Assembly since January 2012

Chair of the French Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (2002-2003 and since 2007) and to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Western European Union

Vice-President of the EPP/CD political group

Vice-President of PACE since 2007

Member of both the Bureau and Standing Committee

Chair of the ad hoc committee for the reform of PACE

Member of the Political Affairs Committee and its Sub-committee on External relations

Member of the Monitoring Committee

Member of the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs

Chair of the Committee on Parliamentary and Public Relations (1999-2000)

Member of the French Delegation to PACE since 1993

National political duties

Deputy in the National Assembly (since 1988)

Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee (since 2008)

Member of the European Affairs Committee (since 2009)

Member of the National Defence and Armed Forces Committee (2002-2008)

Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee (2001-2002)

Member of the Cultural Affairs Committee (1997-2001)

Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee (1993-1997)

Member of the Production and Trade Committee (1988-1993)

National Secretary of the RPR tasked with relations with the new democracies of Central and Eastern Europe (1990-1993)

Local political duties

Mayor of Dammarie-lès-Lys since 1983

President of the greater agglomeration of Melun Val-de-Seine (2002-2008)